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As seems to be a common story among other students, Trinity reached the last place on our potential college list. Somehow we ended up here, and I, personally, wouldn't regret my decision.

You'll hear a lot about this school. One side feels the school is confining, while the other feels it's becoming lenient. It all depends on your background. If you're used to living with a lot of freedom to make your own lifestyle choices, then no, you won't necessarily be happy here. If you've held to the belief that a certain lifestyle should always be upheld, then you'll accept the somewhat conservative lifestyle that Trinity wishes to maintain. The university desires to give a reputation that is above reproach from all perspectives, so it is inevitable that its expectations may seem strict.

Academically, I've had a good experience. Yes, there will be some classes that seem to drag on or have muddled homework assignments, but overall, I've learned a lot. For the most part, the professors are accessible and approachable. Also, there are some great staff members. Many of Trinity's employees are willing to get to know the students.

Socially, well, there could be improvement. A lot of students go home on the weekend, so feelings of community will lessen. If you want a fun event every night of the week, you won't be satisfied here. Basically, you can't rely on the school to provide activities for all of your free time. Those moments will be affected by the friends that you've made. If you have entertaining friends and good ideas, you'll have fun. Every school has students that act snobby, awkward, or intimidating, so I can't use these types of qualities to define TRINITY'S student body. I will say that even though this is a small college, there is a diverse group of people. You have to find the ones that match your lifestyle, interests, and personality.

Extracurricular activities, as mentioned before, are limited, but are not nonexistent. I've been to some pretty great events. They're generally coordinated by Trinity's student leadership groups. If you become involved in leadership, the school will attempt to invest a lot into your growth - spiritual and personal.

The college is distinctly religious. Chapel attendance is required, missions trips are supported, classes are expected to have a Christian worldview, etc. With that being said, the students are ultimately in charge of how much they wish to become spiritually engaged here. The college has tons of opportunities to so call, "grow in your faith," but it's really up to you to decide how much you want to become involved. Some students here are devout in their faith, while others, quite frankly, really don't care. The college administration doesn't come across as being complacent, but they can only do so much to affect the student body. Personally, I prefer my fellow students to be honest about where they are spiritually. If they don't want to join a Bible study, okay. It's not my place to judge. But those open about their faith need to stay away from double standards. It's a fine line and we all make mistakes, so overall, I think our school would do well to constantly extend grace.

To conclude, your experience at Trinity is what you make of it. Knowing the expectations of the school ahead of time will help you make your decision to attend or not. If you're uncomfortable or frustrated with them, just don't come. It's not the perfect fit for everyone.If you really want to succeed academically, you can probably do well here. Class sizes are small and faculty and staff are generally helpful. If you're concerned about your spiritual life, there are plenty of resources to support you. Trinity has a lot of good qualities, but you have to personally decide if the good qualities that it offers are the ones that are your priority.

Life requires effort, and Trinity is no different. Its expectations may require self-control, and you may need some creativity to have fun. To form good friendships, you'll have to keep an open mind. But honestly, I've been able to enjoy my time here, and I think that my experiences have been worthwhile and have taught me important life lessons.

“There are many students that seems to disappearNot so brightPsychology

There are many students that seems to disappear throughout the week. It's a small campus, but there are still people that stay in there rooms and don't interact with people. Many students were homeschooled throughout their academic career and as a result, most are incredibly socially awkward. Beyond that, although people are friendly, most are awkward and don't know how to interact with others.

The lighting on campus leaves something to be desired. Often students (especially female students) do not feel safe walking back to their dorm from the student center. There is a severe lack of lighting everywhere because the surrounding town will not allow the university to install them. Overall, this school is what you make of it. If you put effort into getting involved and making friends you will have a good experience, if you stay in your room and complain about how dumb the school is, you won't like it at all.

Trinity has been filled with wonderful opportunities to learn, to grow, and to become connected. The professors have amazing knowledge and experience in their fields, they care for students holistically, and they integrate their faith into their teaching. The student life has ample opportunities for students to get involved in and connected to community. Also, the location is phenomenal. We live in a very safe area that has lots of restaurants, activities, forest preserves, and lots more as well as it is 7 minutes from the train that will take you downtown Chicago within 40 minutes. Overall, Trinity opens doors for students to learn, to grow, and to become connected.